Foldable and portable playard assemblies with a storage compartment and methods of use thereof
Foldable and portable playard assemblies with a storage compartment and methods of use thereof are disclosed. An example playard includes a lower frame having a collapsed position and an erected position and an upper frame having a collapsed position and an erected position. The example playard further includes a handle coupled to the lower frame, wherein movement of the handle from a generally horizontal position to a generally upright position causes the lower frame to move between the collapsed position and the erected position.
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This patent claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/902,770, entitled “Foldable and Portable Playard Assemblies with a Storage Compartment and Methods of Use Thereof,” filed on Feb. 22, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSUREThis disclosure relates generally to child care products, and, more particularly, to playard assemblies and methods to use playard assemblies.
BACKGROUNDIn recent years, portable playards have become very popular. Portable playards typically include a frame, a flexible enclosure supported by the frame, and a removable floor board or mat. The frame is largely or completely contained within the flexible enclosure so that there are few if any loose parts when the frame is collapsed or when the frame is erected. When collapsed, the portable playard typically has a compact form factor to enable easy transport and storage of the playard. Sometimes, the floorboard is wrapped around the collapsed frame to prevent the frame from inadvertently leaving the collapsed state. One side of the floorboard may include a fabric strap that serves as a handle for carrying the collapsed playard.
Turning to
As shown in
The front end panel 118, rear end panel 120 and side panels 122 may be constructed of any suitable pliable material. In the illustrated example, the rear end panel 120 and side panels 122 have mesh portions 126 for improved visual access and ventilation of the enclosure 116. The front end panel 118, which also serves as a rear panel for the adjacent storage compartment 104, is shown without a mesh portion (i.e., as a solid fabric panel) so as to better conceal and contain the contents of the storage compartment 104. This also reduces the likelihood of a child in the enclosure attempting to access the compartment 104 and/or its contents.
The floor panel 125 may be constructed of any suitable materials. In the illustrated example, the floor board 125 includes one or more fairly rigid sections (e.g., cardboard and/or pressed wood panels with foam or other padding) enclosed by a pliable fabric covering.
As shown in
The upper frame 110 also includes upper corner housings or end caps 136 that may be formed, for example, by molded plastic, formed metal, or the like. In the illustrated example, each upper corner housing 136 couples an end of an upper end member 128 to an end of a side member 130, and to an upper end of an upright corner post 114. In this example, the upper end members 128 and upright corner posts 114 are fixedly coupled to the upper corner housings 136, while the ends of the side members 130 are pivotably coupled to the upper corner housings 136 to facilitate folding of the same.
The lower frame 112 of the playard assembly 100 of the first illustrated example includes a pair of lower end members 138 and a pair of lower rails 140. The lower end members 138 and the lower rails 140 of the lower frame 112 may be constructed in a similar manner to the components of the upper frame 110 (i.e., as metal or plastic tubes). The lower frame 112 also includes rear lower corner housings 142 and front lower corner housings 144 to join the lower end members 138, the lower rails 140 and the lower ends of the corner posts 114.
In the illustrated example of
In the illustrated example, a portion of the lower frame 112 functions as a handle 150. The handle 150 of the illustrated example is a generally U-shaped member having a grasping portion 152 and two sides 154 that. terminate in ends 156. In the illustrated example, each of the ends 156 forms a portion of a respective one of the lower rails 140 as shown in
In the example of
The storage compartment 104 of the example shown in
As shown in
As described above, the fabric enclosure 116 includes a central opening in its bottom panel and/or does not include a floor. The open bottom area permits the pivoting movement of the handle 150 from a substantially vertical handle position (
A method of collapsing the example playard assembly 100 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 6-10. The principles of operation of the example shown in
FIGS. 4 and 6-10 demonstrate the movement of the frame 108 from the erected position to the collapsed position (and the handle 150 from the floor support position to the handle position). To move from the collapsed position to the erected position, the movements shown in FIGS. 4 and 5-10 would be reversed. In
The collapsing process is continued,
With the example playard assembly 100 latched in the collapsed position, the playard assembly 100 may be conveniently moved by holding the grasping portion 152 of the handle member 150, tilting the playard assembly 100 so as to rest on the wheels 148, and then pushing or pulling the handle member 150 to roll the playard assembly 100 over a ground surface. The playard assembly 100 also may be parked in a collapsed and upright position by resting the assembly 100 on the ground engaging wheels 148 and the legs 146, 166 that extend downward from the front lower corner housings 144 and from the lower extension member 164.
A further illustrated example of a foldable and portable playard assembly 300 with a storage compartment 104 is shown in
In the example of
The illustrated example shown in
In the example of
As with the first illustrated example, the playard assembly 300 shown in
Another example playard assembly 500 constructed in accordance with the teachings of the invention is shown in
The storage compartment 400 shown in
Foldable and portable playard assemblies with a storage compartment and methods of using the same have been disclosed. The example playards may be folded lengthwise into a suitcase like configuration for transport and/or storage. Although the described examples fold only in a lengthwise direction, playards that adopt the teachings of this disclosure to include sideways folding, either in addition to or in place of the lengthwise folding, are also contemplated and disclosed.
Although certain example methods and apparatus have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.
Claims
1. A portable playard comprising:
- a lower frame having a collapsed position and an erected position;
- an upper frame having a collapsed position and an erected position;
- a handle coupled to the lower frame, wherein pivotal movement of the handle from a generally horizontal position to a generally upright position causes the lower frame to move between the collapsed position and the erected position; and
- a floor having an opening therein, wherein the handle moves through the opening in the floor when the handle moves from the generally horizontal position to the erected position.
2. A playard as defined in claim 1, wherein the lower frame includes a plurality of lower frame rails at least one of which is coupled to the handle via a pivotal coupling.
3. A playard as defined in claim 1, wherein the handle extends above the upper frame when the upper frame is in the collapsed position.
4. A playard as defined in claim 1, further comprising a storage compartment coupled to a front end of the playard, the storage compartment being fully accessible when the playard is in a collapsed position and when the playard is in an erected position.
5. A playard as defined in claim 4, wherein the storage compartment comprises a flap door.
6. A playard as defined in claim 4, wherein the-storage compartment is supported by one or more of an upper extension frame coupled to the upper frame or a lower extension frame coupled to the lower frame.
7. A playard as defined in claim 6, wherein the lower extension frame includes one or more of a contour or a foot to support the storage compartment on a ground surface.
8. A playard as defined in claim 4, wherein the storage compartment includes a plurality of different openings or enclosures.
9. A playard as defined in claim 4, wherein the storage compartment includes a changing table surface.
10. A playard as defined in claim 1, further comprising a latch to secure the playard in a collapsed position.
11. A playard as defined in claim 10, wherein the latch comprises a strap to secure at least two opposed posts of the playard.
12. A playard as defined in claim 10, wherein the latch comprises a fastener flap.
13. A playard as defined in claim 1, wherein the upper frame comprises side rails and opposed end rails, wherein the end rails move toward each other and the side rails collapse as the upper frame moves from the erected position to the collapsed position.
14. A playard as defined in claim 13, wherein the end rails move in a generally horizontal plane as the upper frame moves from the erected position to the collapsed position.
15. A playard as defined in claim 13, wherein the end rails do not fold as the upper frame moves from the erected position to the collapsed position.
16. A playard as defined in claim 13, wherein the side rails collapse by folding.
17. A playard as defined in claim 13, wherein the side rails collapse by telescoping.
18. A playard as defined in claim 13, wherein the end rails fold as the upper frame moves from the erected position to the collapsed position.
19. A playard as defined in claim 13, wherein a form factor of the playard approximates an upright suitcase or a shopping cart when in the collapsed position.
20. A playard as defined in claim 1 further comprising locking joints in the upper frame.
21. A portable playard comprising:
- a lower frame having a collapsed position and an erected position;
- an upper frame having a collapsed position and an erected position;
- a plurality of support posts joining the upper frame and the lower frame; and
- a handle telescopically coupled to at least one of the support posts for movement between a lowered position and a raised position
- wherein the upper frame comprises side rails and opposed end rails, the end rails move toward each other and the side rails collapse as the upper frame moves from the erected position to the collapsed position, and the side rails collapse by telescoping.
22. A playard as defined in claim 21 wherein the handle extends above the upper frame when the upper frame is in the collapsed position and the handle is in the raised position.
23. A playard as defined in claim 21, further comprising a storage compartment coupled to an end of the playard, the storage compartment being fully accessible when the playard is in a collapsed position and when the playard is in an erected position.
24. A playard as defined in claim 23, wherein the storage compartment comprises a flap door.
25. A playard as defined in claim 21, further comprising a latch to secure the playard in the collapsed position.
26. A playard as defined in claim 25, wherein the latch comprises a strap to secure at least two opposed posts of the playard.
27. A playard as defined in claim 25, wherein the latch comprises a fastener flap.
28. A playard as defined in claim 21, wherein the end rails move in a generally horizontal plane as the upper frame moves from the erected position to the collapsed position.
29. A playard as defined in claim 21, wherein the end rails do not fold as the upper frame moves from the erected position to the collapsed position.
30. A playard as defined in claim 21, wherein the end rails fold as the upper frame moves from the erected position to the collapsed position.
31. A playard as defined in claim 21, wherein a form factor of the playard approximates an upright suitcase or a shopping cart when in the collapsed position.
32. A portable playard comprising:
- a lower frame having a collapsed position and an erected position;
- an upper frame comprising a plurality of upper side rails and having a collapsed position and an erected position;
- a plurality of corner housings coupling one or more of the plurality of upper side rails; and
- a handle coupled to the lower frame, wherein pivotal movement of the handle from a generally horizontal position to a generally upright position wherein the handle extends through the upper frame above the plurality of corner housings causes the lower frame to move between the collapsed position and the erected position.
33. A playard as defined in claim 32, wherein the side rails collapse by folding.
34. A portable playard comprising:
- a lower frame having a collapsed position and an erected position;
- an upper frame having a collapsed position and an erected position; posts joining the lower frame to the upper frame; rollers rotatably coupled to respective ones of the posts or the lower frame;
- a storage compartment frame including an upper extension coupled to the upper frame, a lower extension coupled to the lower frame, and soft goods coupled between the upper extension and the lower extension; and
- a handle extending above the upper frame when the upper and lower frames are in the collapsed positions to tip the portable playard for movement like a roller suitcase, the storage compartment being fully accessible when the playard is collapsed and when the playard is erected.
35. A playard as defined in claim 34, wherein the upper frame comprises a plurality of corner housings and the handle extends above the corner housing when the upper frame and the lower frame are in the collapsed positions.
36. A playard as defined in claim 34, wherein the upper frame comprises a first end rail and a second end rail and the handle is closer to the first end rail when the upper frame and the lower frame are in the collapsed positions.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Feb 22, 2008
Date of Patent: Aug 30, 2011
Patent Publication Number: 20080209631
Assignee: Kolcraft Enterprises, Inc. (Chicago, IL)
Inventors: Wesley H. Thomas (Kenosha, WI), Phillip Hoisinger (Arbor Vitae, WI), Traei J. Barron (St. John, IN)
Primary Examiner: Robert G Santos
Assistant Examiner: Brittany M Wilson
Attorney: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC
Application Number: 12/070,987
International Classification: A47D 7/00 (20060101);